Atlas Twp. ? When it comes to keeping local restaurants open, there’s power in numbers.
Mitch Plant, chef at Atlas Valley Country Club, has joined in the fight to keep independent restaurants afloat.
‘Chains have the advantage,? said Plant. ‘Independent operators just can’t afford to keep up, and if you’re name’s not out there, people forget about you.?
Plant is the vice-president of the Mid-Michigan Originals chapter of the Council of Independent Restaurants of America (CIRA).
Plant, along with chapter president Phil Watters founded the group in an effort to ‘cross-promote? member restaurants. Although local eateries are competitors, they’re also each other’s customers, says Plant.
‘I go out to dinner,? he said. ‘The last thing you want to see is a restaurant go out of business.?
Cranberries Cafe in Goodrich also belongs to the organization. Cranberries and Atlas Valley Country Club are among the 15 member restaurants in Genesee County that will serve up specialties at the upcoming Mid-Michigan Originals Food Tasting fund-raiser to be held Feb. 29 at Broadstreet North on Pierson Road in Flushing.
Tickets are $15 per person, or two for $25. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door.
A 6 p.m. cocktail reception will start the evening. Food tasting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m.
More information about the national organization can be found at www.CIRAonline.org.
For information on the Mid-Michigan Originals chapter or food tasting tickets, call Mitch Plant at (810) 636-2929 or Phil Watters at (810) 743-4355.